"In partnership with QuoStar, ASH Elite is today proudly announcing the final shortlist for the second annual Dorset Legal Awards."
Robert Rutherford, CEO of QuoStar
In partnership with QuoStar, the leading Bournemouth-based IT consultancy, ASH Elite, Dorset’s only specialist Legal Recruitment consultancy, is today proudly announcing the final shortlist for the second annual Dorset Legal Awards. This year’s Dorset Legal Awards welcomes back a number of last year’s finalists including Blanchards Bailey, Dutton Gregory, Ellis Jones and Farnfields, all of whom have been shortlisted again this year.
Since opening nominations at the start of September, over 167 submissions were made across 17 different law firms. These nominations were individually scored by the judging panel and a final shortlist of 40 finalists was created. In total, 15 winners will be crowned across three different categories: individual awards, team awards and firm-wide awards. Additional awards will be announced on the night for Outstanding Achievement, Engagement with Education, and In-House Team of the Year.
This year’s awards will also include a new “mystery shopper” element. Each firm will be scored on their rapport with the prospective client, their knowledge of the enquiry, and how valued the client felt.
Finalists will be judged in person by an independent panel of notable legal and business professionals including Dr John Knowles, former Chairman of DEK; Darren Slade, Business and Technology Editor of the Bournemouth Daily Echo; barrister Vanessa Meachin QC; and Ian Scott, retired senior corporate Solicitor.
QuoStar’s CEO, Robert Rutherford, comments:
“The Dorset Legal Awards is an opportunity to give recognition to the hard work and dedication shown by the industry in the South West and has very quickly become a key date on the calendar for firms in this region. This year’s mystery shopper element will also add an exciting twist to proceedings, allowing firms to show their true commitment to clients. Following the success of last year’s awards, we are more excited than ever to have this year’s finalists announced.”
ASH Elite’s Managing Director, Sofie Scott, comments:
“As was very evident in this years’ entries, Dorset is full of fantastic firms, teams and legal professionals. We are proud to be able to run these awards to showcase the legal talent and help raise their profile, not only locally, but across the South. We are exciting to start the next stage of the judging process and to meet with all the finalists in January. The big awards ceremony will take place on Friday 1st March and we hope to see you all there!”
Shortlists
A full breakdown of the shortlist can be found below:
Individual Awards
Lawyer of the year
Name
Firm
William Warnock
Dutton Gregory
Victoria Riddlestone
Ellis Jones
Paul Burton
Frettens
Kerry Parsons
Laceys
Partner of the Year
Name
Firm
Emma Menzies
Dutton Gregory
William Fox Bregman
Ellis Jones
Simon Cross
Humphries Kirk
John Munro
Laceys
Emma Hamilton-Cole
Williams Thompson
Rising Star of the Year
Name
Firm
Clair Phillips
Ellis Jones
Nicola Highland
Laceys
Team Awards
Property Team of the Year
Blanchards Bailey
Dutton Gregory
Farnfields
Laceys
Family Team of the Year
Blanchards Bailey
Dutton Gregory
Farnfields
Laceys
Trethowans
Personal Injury / Medical Negligence Team of the Year
Dutton Gregory
Ellis Jones
Trethowans
Private Client Team of the Year
Blanchards Bailey
Dutton Gregory
Laceys
Company Commercial Team of the Year
Blanchards Bailey
Ellis Jones
Laceys
Dispute Resolution Team of the Year
Blanchards Bailey
Ellis Jones
Laceys
Firm-wide Awards
Law Firm of the Year 100+
Dutton Gregory
Ellis Jones
Laceys
Law Firm of the Year 50-99
Blanchards Bailey
Farnfields
Frettens
Contribution to the Community Award
Ellis Jones
Farnfields
About QuoStar
QuoStar is a rapid-growth, privately-held business consultancy and information technology firm headquartered in the United Kingdom. QuoStar delivers strategic and technical consultancy, IT outsourcing and a comprehensive range of enterprise-class managed cloud services. The company’s client profile encompasses a broad range of industries and businesses with a turnover of up to £200M in the UK and overseas.
About ASH Elite
ASH Elite is a specialist legal recruitment consultancy, the only one of its kind in Dorset! Working with employers and employees throughout the south, ASH Elite provides a bespoke and tailored service to each individual and firm.
For further comment, or to speak to Robert Rutherford, please contact:
Elliot Duffy
Account Executive
Rostrum
020 3727 3746